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Tuesday, May 25, 2010

P is for Prompts

P is for Prompts

Those who write sometimes use prompts to prime the writing pump. When a person is stuck for an idea of what to write next, prompts can be a great way to prime the writing pump and get thoughts and ideas flowing again.

Here in Blogland, bloggers often use prompts as a way to give readers a glimpse into their lives... what they're doing, feeling, working on, reading, etc. There is a sense of fun in the writing and people tend to gather round, sharing their own thoughts as they read. A nice way of getting to know one another

I like prompts and enjoy creating my own sometimes. Sometimes the prompts follow a theme or they are randomly put together.

What fascinates me is how a prompt can release memories or ideas and suddenly you're thinking the most interesting things. And you wonder where that came from! One never quite knows what will pop out -- surprising the writer herself more than anyone.

Here we go -- my prompts for today....

I never thought... I'd want to be a writer. In fact, I didn't even have an inkling when I was growing up that I'd ever, ever consider it. Essay writing in school was a most dreaded exercise. It took me years to realize that my distaste for writing had less to do with the actual craft than the task of agonizing over the horrid list and choosing a topic might be the least painful to write about.

I don't really enjoy... eating liver or bean soup (yukky childhood memories are attached to having to eat these meals, although I don't 'mind' them quite so much and I quite enjoy Susan Branch's bean soup).

I really, really like... eat egg salad sandwiches (on fresh white bread - yep) especially when they are cut up into tiny triangles and a little lemon zest has been added to the ingredients.

I cannot... watch movies where animals or children are being mistreated in any way. That's also why I cannot read -- to this day -- the story of Black Beauty. The first time I read it as a child I was devastated for weeks. I've never read it since.

I have... been gathering my research for a workshop I'm presenting this fall on 'blogging and web presence' for a local writer's conference. I'm having fun thinking about what I want to share to get people excited and equipped to join this amazing community of bloggers.

I do not like... the smell of really overripe bananas. Yucky!

I'm going to... make raisin bran muffins for breakfast. The ingredients are all set out ready to go when I wake up in a few short hours. It'll be my special treat for hubby who loves freshly-baked muffins with coffee.A book I'm enjoying right now...If You Want to Write by Brenda Ueland. I'm pondering what she says about learning how to live and write in the present, as that's where the inspiration will come to write. She goes on to say: "Sometimes say softly to yourself: 'Now...now. What is happening to me now? This is now. What is coming into me now? This moment?' Then suddenly you begin to see the world as you had not seen it before..."

Some advice I'm going to take is... from something Carrie Wilkerson at Barefoot Executive said in one of her teaching sessions. She asked the class, "How many of you have a book in your head?" Many responded in the affirmative. She then said, "Well what's it doing there? Get it out of your head and on paper. No one can read it, or buy it, when it's still in your head." How true. One book I started a couple of years ago, with most of it still in my head, is coming out of the cupboard...today.I haven't figured out... how to knit. I love the idea of knitting and have tried to learn many times over the years. But, in truth, this girl's finger have never quite figured it out. Finally, she got the message and said, No more, put away the knitting needles and give away the yarn.

6 comments:

I love your blog Brenda!! SOooooo many things I can relate to! Liver - BLECKy bad - egg salad sammies good! And yes triangles :-)I will stick around and do some reading!!Thanks so much for your creativity!Lynn

You're a natural born teacher. These prompts were great and I enjoyed reading your responses. I don't care for liver and I don't like bean soup and I am also so sensitive to some stories that I must close the book...forever. I may take you up on the challenge and if I do, I shall certainly link back.

These are great, Brenda. My daughter has the book "If You Want to Write" and I'm hoping to read it when she's done with it.Talking about books in the closet (computer), I have two there, and keep telling myself that I'll get to them one day. Maybe today's the day!

Is your seminar on blogging for the Inscribe conference? One day, when I'm finished this degree, I'll be joining in again.

Lynn --- How very nice to hear from you. Had to chuckle at the 'Blecky bad' comment. BTW, your own blog is quite, quite lovely!

Vee --- You are kind! And it's amazing how many people confess to not truly loving bean soup! I love the photo that links to your site -- such a gorgeous hue of pink flowers.

Lorrie --- I first heard about Brenda's book through Jan Karon. In my view it's one that's a keeper -- I've read it a couple of times and yet found all manner of 'new' stuff again this round. Makes a person wonder what head space I was in the last time, because some of it seems so fresh and new.

And Yes, it is for the InScribe Writers Fall Conference that I'm preparing this blogging workshop. I'm really excited about the opportunity. As is often the case, the teacher learns more for herself when she has to prepare for a classroom of people. It's pushing me to reach out and see where else I can go with this wonderful social media.

"Lord, give me an open heart to find You everywhere, to glimpse the heaven enfolded in a bud, and experience eternity in the smallest act of love." ~ Mother Teresa

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BRENDA C LEYLAND writes from Western Canada. She enjoys the amazing beauty that nature and people bring to our world. Has a special place in her heart for books, birds, gardens, kitty cats, and ... YOU!